MADRID, May 24: Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic reatined her Madrid Open title here today beating former No 1 Monica Seles 7-5, 6-1 in an hour and 16 minutes.The 28-year-old Novotna, ranked fourth in the world, took full advantage of the Yugoslav-born naturalised American's mediocre play, breaking Seles seven times during the match.Novotna, winning her first tournament of the season, was affected by Seles' listlessness and lost her serve three times in the first set but still prevailed in 44 minutes.The 23-year-old Seles, who is desperate to regain the form that saw her become the undisputed number one before she was stabbed in Germany in 1993, was unable to lift her game making countless unforced errors allowing Novotna to take the second set in just 32 minutes.Both women suffered from injuries during the match. Seles, who was losing her third final of the year, complained of a painful right heel and Novotna suffered from a hamstring problem in her right leg.However both injuries were thought unlikely to stop them playing in the French Open that begins in Paris on Monday.Monica Seles had made the final, after dropping the first set against unseeded Argentine Florencia Labat 6-7, 6-1, 6-2.Novotna ended Spanish hopes by trouncing third-seeded Arantxa Sanchez- vicario 6-2, 6-2 in the other semifinal.Graf triumphsSTRASBOURG: Steffi Graf won her first tournament of the year and 103rd of her career by beating 15-year-old Mirjana Lucic of Croatia, 6-2, 7-5 today in the final of the Strasbourg Open.Lucic lost for the first time this year in her second pro tournament. Lucic won the Bol, Croatia tournament in April in her first official pro tournament.Lucic had to go through qualifying there and had to qualify here again, getting through three three-set matches before entering the main draw. She is 15-1 for the season on the WTA Tour.Graf is now 12-2 for the season after being out of tournament play from February until last week.
